Brazil investigates its military past as it seeks transparency in democracy

Former president Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff were victims of the dictatorship (photo:dpa)

Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff has set up a truth commission to investigate human rights abuses during the country’s 21-year military dictatorship. The commission has two years to report its findings but there will be no trials of soldiers or guerillas who committed atrocities because an amnesty law provides legal cover to those involved in repression and toruture. The move provides more transparency as Brazil builds on the democratic gains since dictatorship was ended.

ONE HUNDRED and twenty Brazilians, who were political prisoners during the country's military dictatorship, have received official apologies from the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The co...

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